2017 SEASON REVIEW 2018 PRESENTATION - BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA 2017 - VERSION 1 - NOV 2017
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VERSION 1 – NOV 2017
BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA 2017
2017 SEASON REVIEW 2018 PRESENTATION
BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – SEASON REVIEW 2017
CONTENTS
2017 SEASON REVIEW
04 INTRODUCTION - BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA
05 INTRODUCTION - SRO MOTORSPORTS GROUP
06 INTRODUCTION - SRO’S EXPERTISE IN ACTION
07 CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT & KNOW-HOW
2017 FAN & MEDIA DATA
09 TV OVERVIEW & DISTRIBUTION
10 TV & AUDIENCE STATS
11 LIVE & VIDEO SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT
12 SOCIAL MEDIA STATS - FACEBOOK
13 SOCIAL MEDIA STATS - TWITTER
14 MEDIA PARTNERSHIP - SPORT AUTO
15 ENTRY STATS
16 GT3 SEASON REVIEW
17 GT4 SEASON REVIEW
18 SRO ’NIGHT OF THE CHAMPIONS’ AWARDS
2018 PRESENTATION
20 INTERCONTINENTAL GT CHALLENGE
21 BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA CALENDAR
22 SUZUKA 10 HOURS
23-27 ELIGIBLE GT3 / GT4 / GTC CARS
28 CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT
29 PRIZE MONEY
30 TRANSPORT ASSISTANCE & TIMING
31-33 PARTNERS
34-35 GRAPHICAL CHARTER
36 2018 ENTRY FORM
37-38 CONTACTS
2017 SEASON REVIEW
BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2017 SEASON REVIEW
04 INTRODUCTION - BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA
117 drivers, 34 teams, nine when British GT Championship
manufacturers and a season-high General Manager and Macau FIA
34 entries: Blancpain GT Series GT World Cup co-ordinator
Asia surpassed all expectations Benjamin Franassovici joined
during its inaugural campaign, a forces with Paul Yao, whose
trend that looks set to continue in regional expertise remain
2018 and beyond. invaluable. They have since
formed a potent partnership.
SRO Motorsports Group’s first-
ever pan-Asian championship That collaboration and
was built on 25 years of understanding between East and
experience as well as several West is also evident in the
tried and tested elements championship’s format, which has
imperative to the success of its been paramount to its early
championships in Europe and success. Lessons learnt by SRO
elsewhere. Indeed, a new level of in Europe suggested a simple,
professional organisation, proven format that allowed both
accountability, world-renowned Pro/Am and fully-professional
Balance of Performance crews to fight for outright victories
regulations and teams-first would also find favour in Asia.
approach has all contributed Equally, the championship only
towards Blancpain GT Series Asia visits the continent’s very best
becoming the region’s sportscar circuits, all of which stage two, 60-
benchmark in less than 12 minute races per weekend. GT3
months. remains popular, but the
emergence of GT4 as an
But the team behind the series is increasingly important alternative
also as international as its driver prompted SRO to include it from
line-ups. By mid-2016 the the start. And, as a result, the
foundations for a successful new class is expected to grow
championship were put in place considerably in 2018.
BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2017 SEASON REVIEW
05 INTRODUCTION - SRO MOTORSPORTS GROUP
Over the last 25 years SRO has specialised in now known as the FFSA GT4 European
the promotion and organisation of motorsport Series Southern Cup – was added to its
series around the world. Inextricably linked existing Northern Cup counterpart in 2017.
with GT racing’s revival, SRO predominantly
promotes categories that adhere to its But that’s not all. SRO’s world-renowned
successful GT3 and GT4 regulations. Indeed, Balance of Performance regulations are
these rules - a common framework allowing licensed by other series running GT3 and/or
manufacturers, teams and drivers to compete GT4 machinery, such as Super GT in Japan,
MANUFACTURERS
equally with one another - has helped the Australian GT Championship and China
establish SRO as the global leader in GT. This global influence has not gone INTERCONTINENTAL
customer GT racing. unnoticed by motorsport’s world governing GT CHALLENGE
body, the FIA, who work closely with SRO
Today, SRO’s influence and organisation can when organising its prestigious Macau FIA GT
be seen around the world. Its flagship remains World Cup race. BLANCPAIN GT SERIES
the European-based Blancpain GT Series,
which features both the Sprint and Endurance While Macau caters solely for professional TEAMS
Cups. Its annual highlight remains the iconic teams and drivers, SRO also understands the PIRELLI WORLD CHALLENGE (USA)
Total 24 Hours of Spa. important role amateurs play in GT racing’s
global success and sustainability. That’s why
The same Pirelli tyres and Balance of it operates the SRO Race Centre by MMC - a BRITISH GT CHAMPIONSHIP
Performance parameters governing the high-level technical centre at Paul Ricard
Blancpain GT Series have also been adopted Circuit in southern France - and Curbstone
in the United States by the Pirelli World Track Events, which provide ultimate track GT4 EUROPEAN SERIES
Challenge (of which SRO is also a major driving opportunities on world-renowned
shareholder), while SRO expanded its circuits. Many of its clients have subsequently
BLANCPAIN GT SPORTS CLUB DRIVERS
successful platform East in 2017 by graduated to the Blancpain GT Sports Club, a
establishing Blancpain GT Series Asia. first competitive step towards gaining the
confidence and racecraft required to compete BLANCPAIN ULTRACAR SPORTS CLUB & GT1 SPORTS CLUB
In addition, the world’s best GT races from all in a Pro/Am environment.
four corners of the globe are brought together
under the Intercontinental GT Challenge. SRO Motorsports Group is chaired by CURBSTONE TRACK EVENTS
2018’s edition features three events company founder and CEO Stephane Ratel
personally overseen by SRO – the Total 24 and has offices in London, Paris, Liège and
Hours of Spa, inaugural Suzuka 10 Hours, Hong Kong. It’s dedicated team of full-time
and Mazda Raceway California 8 Hours – as and freelance staff work with the support of
well as the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour. numerous national sporting authorities and
sanctioning bodies to offer teams, drivers and
SRO is also strong domestically. The multi- manufacturers the world’s best professional,
class British GT Championship, which it has Pro/Am and amateur GT racing platforms.
presided over since 2005, pairs GT3 with GT4
machinery, while France’s national series –
BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2017 SEASON REVIEW
06 INTRODUCTION - SRO’S EXPERTISE IN ACTION
As well as organising its own series and events, SRO works behind the scenes to
support promoters of championships and high-profile standalone races around the
world.
Indeed, so renowned is SRO’s Balance of Performance technology that it is licensed
by other organisers. SRO’s BoP governs the GT300 category in Japan’s domestic
series, Super GT, while China GT also maintains a level playing field in its GT4 class
thanks to SRO. It’s a similar story Down Under where all cars competing in the
Australian GT Championship’s GT3 and GT4 ranks remain evenly matched thanks to
SRO.
This was perfectly illustrated at the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour in 2016 when just 1.2s
separated the winning McLaren from the second placed Nissan at the finish.
But it’s not just SRO’s BoP that proves popular among partners. Its global network,
track record and influence recently saw SRO win the tender to assist motorsport’s
world governing body, the FIA, with promoting and organising Macau’s annual FIA GT
World Cup event. SRO acts as the interface between the FIA and local promoter, co-
ordinates teams and secures manufacturer participation in a race only open to
professional drivers. The successful partnership has led to seven GT3 manufactures
entering 20 factory-supported cars and drivers in 2017’s edition this November.
Almost half the entries are being run by Blancpain GT Series Asia teams (see pink).
LIQUI-MOLY BATHURST 12 HOUR MACAU FIA GT WORLD CUP
SUPER GT - GT300 SRO SCRUTINEERING
BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2017 SEASON REVIEW
07 CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT AND KNOW-HOW
Following an inaugural campaign that surpassed all Am/Am pairings can also fight for class honours within
expectations, Blancpain GT Series Asia’s format and GT3, while only amateur drivers are currently eligible to
regulations – originally based around the British GT compete in GT4.
Championship’s - will remain largely unchanged in
2018. Pitstop success penalties are applied at all races to
prevent any single crew from dominating. In 2018 the
The series brings together a mix of GT3 and GT4 top-three finishers from the previous race must
machinery, while GTC cars are also eligible to compete respectively serve an additional 15, 10 or 5 seconds on
at the 12 hour-long races spread across six events and top of the mandated minimum pitstop time. This spread
four countries that again comprise 2018’s calendar. is slightly higher than in 2017 when 10, 7 and 5 seconds
were added.
Cars feature a maximum of two drivers, each of whom
qualifies for and then starts one of the weekend’s two Just like all SRO championships Blancpain GT Series
races. They must then swap places with their co-driver Asia benefits from the organisation’s world-renowned
during the mandatory pitstop window, which lasts 10- Balance of Performance (BOP) regulations. These
minutes. ensure that a car’s natural attributes or shortcomings are
not the determining factors in overall results.
Two types of driver pairings compete for outright
victories: the mix of a professional and amateur (Pro/Am) But SRO’s BoP is just the start. It’s expertise extends into
and two professionals graded no higher than Silver by Race Control, stewarding, scrutineering, management
the FIA (Silver Cup). The latter will be subject to and regulatory matters, all of which combine to deliver an
performance adjustments and approval by SRO to accountable and trustworthy GT racing environment.
ensure that both Pro/Am and Silver/Silver crews are
capable of winning races outright. In 2017 this resulted in Format and regulations to be ratified and are subject
a balanced five/seven split across the 12 races staged. to changes.
FAN AND MEDIA DATA
BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2017 SEASON REVIEW
09 TV OVERVIEW
Live TV and online streaming coverage
from all events.
Same trusted production team and
facilities, with extensive Asian
motorsport experience, to be used
throughout the season, thus ensuring a
broadcast product that retains quality
and consistency.
1080i HD pitlane and global feed.
Full circuit camera coverage. TV DISTRIBUTION Millions of homes worldwide have
access to the live TV broadcasts,
Chinese audience by targeting the
country’s myriad live online TV
while anyone with an internet platforms during 2017’s Shanghai and
Experienced English speaking Every Blancpain GT Series Asia race connection can tune in online. Geo- Zhejiang rounds, both of which
commentators and presenters. is broadcast and streamed live across blocked countries, such as America, featured dedicated Chinese
the continent and around the world, can still watch races courtesy of Motor commentary.
Short social media highlights and long- while qualifying sessions are also Trend On Demand’s popular
form broadcast highlights to be created streamed live on the championship’s subscription service, and the series Further opportunities will be explored
at every event. Facebook page and website. also took steps to engage with its before and during 2018.
BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2017 SEASON REVIEW
10 TV AND AUDIENCE STATS
Data compiled by leading TV ratings
665K Estimated live TV viewers
575K
research company, Nielsen
per race weekend
93% Asian audience based on
estimated live TV viewers Total combined
live streaming
4M Asian audience based on
estimated live TV viewers views in 2017
TOP 3 WEEKEND ATTENDANCES 2017
SUZUKA 17,500 SHANGHAI 15,000 BURIRAM 12,000BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2017 SEASON REVIEW
11 LIVE AND VIDEO SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT
Video has become the most powerful tool for engaging
with fans on social media and across the web. Blancpain CLOCKWISE FROM TOP
GT Series Asia maximises this at every round by Facebook Live coverage & video library
SRO GT World Youtube channel
producing a range of live, pre-recoded and post-event
Chinese social media live streaming
content. Championship website video gallery
All races streamed live and free-of-charge with
English commentary > WATCH
All qualifying sessions streamed live and for
free with English commentary > WATCH
Dedicated social media highlights available one
hour after each race > WATCH
Pre-event build-up filmed on-site
> WATCH
Post-event wrap-up
> WATCH
Bitesize viral race snippets
> WATCH
Features courtesy of official media partner,
Sport Auto > WATCH
Trackside and behind-the-scenes Facebook
Live videos > WATCH
Live streams with Chinese commentary for
Chinese social media platforms > WATCHBLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2017 SEASON REVIEW
12 SOCIAL MEDIA STATS - FACEBOOK
2017 OVERVIEW – ALL CONTENT
10,250 FOLLOWERS
EST. JAN 2017
59.3M TOTAL
IMPRESSIONS 12,481 AVERAGE REACH
PER POST
Facebook has proven to be Blancpain GT
LIVE STREAMING – 2017 EVENTS
Series Asia’s most popular social media
platform during its inaugural campaign TOTAL REACH AVERAGE REACH TOTAL VIEWS
having generated more than 10,000 organic 2M IN 2017
333,000 PER WEEKEND 419,000 OF LIVE VIDEOS
followers.
With no previous year-on-year data to compare
against, it’s impossible to draw a direct
comparison with how the page has performed ALL VIDEO CONTENT– JAN-OCT 2017
relative to the previous 12 months. However, we
can provide data that offers a snapshot of the TOTAL REACH AVERAGE REACH TOTAL VIEWS
page’s performance since its founding in January 2.7M IN 2017
17,000 PER VIDEO 547,000 OF ALL VIDEOS
2017.
AUDIENCE COMPARISON
THAILAND
12% 11% 10% MALAYSIA
17% 5%
26% AGE 13-24
7% TAIWAN
AGE 25-34 FEMALE ASIAN
22% 7% 48% HONG KONG
AGE 35-44 MALE OTHER JAPAN
7%
AGE 45+ PHILIPPINES
40% 83% 16%
89%
OTHERBLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2017 SEASON REVIEW
13 SOCIAL MEDIA STATS - TWITTER
2017 OVERVIEW – ALL CONTENT
680 FOLLOWERS
EST. MAR 2017
643,000 TOTAL
IMPRESSIONS 16,521 TOTAL PROFILE
VIEWS
TOTAL MENTIONS TOTAL TOTAL LIKES /
901 IN 2017
1695 RETWEETS 3008 FAVOURITES
AUDIENCE COMPARISON
92%
91%
JAPAN
13% 11% UK
86%
AGE 13-24 32% 31% USA
16% AGE 25-34 FEMALE
82%
40% ITALY
AGE 35-44 MALE
GERMANY
3%
AGE 45+ 4% FRANCE
31% 4% 18%
89% 8%
OTHER LIKE PERFORMANCE VEHICLES LIKE MOTOR RACING
LIKE SPORT LIKE LUXURYBLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2017 SEASON REVIEW
14 MEDIA PARTNERSHIP – SPORT AUTO
2017’s final two events – Shanghai and Zhejiang – saw China’s leading motorsport and automotive
publication, Sport Auto, become Blancpain GT Series Asia’s official media partner. While the outlet
had previously covered the championship’s events, a formal partnership provided an opportunity to
penetrate the coveted Chinese market and gain an insight into its impact.
500,000 READERS - GUARANTEED PRINT COVERAGE
Eight pages in November and December issues
147,000 VIEWS - 40 POSTS ACROSS 10 CHANNELS
Chinese social media promo - Weibo, WeChat, Facebook, Sport Auto, other
LIVE VIEWS - ACROSS 26 STREAMING CHANNELS WITH CHINESE COMMENTARY
2.4M Inc. Douyu, Micro TV, Iqiyi, Wasu, Longzhu, Panda, QQ, Hysports, Yizhibo & Quanmin
POST-EVENT VIDEO VIEWS
223,000 Two bespoke videos distributed across eight channels inc. Youku, Yiche and LeTV
Monthly print coverage Website news coverage Weibo WeChat Douyu live streamBLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2017 SEASON REVIEW
15 ENTRY STATS - 2017
05 02 07 05
WINNING GT3 WINNING GT4 WINNING GT3 WINNING GT4
MANUFACTURERS MANUFACTURERS DRIVER CREWS DRIVER CREWS
(5x PRO/AM, 7x SILVER CUP)
117 DRIVERS
IN 2017
34 TEAMS IN 2017 25 NATIONALITIES
REPRESENTED 10 ASIAN COUNTRIES
REPRESENTED 05 CONTINENTS
REPRESENTED
DIFFERENT MODELS
OF GT3/GT4 CARS 12 ASTON MARTIN
AUDI
BENTLEY
LARGEST ENTRY
OF 2017 (FUJI) 34
BMW
FERRARI
LAMBORGHINI
McLAREN
MERCEDES-AMG
PORSCHE AVERAGE ENTRY
IN 2017 28
09 DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS
REPRESENTED IN GT3/GT4BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2017 SEASON REVIEW
16 GT3 SEASON REVIEW
ABBOTT LEAVES IT LATE TO PREVAIL IN THREE-WAY TITLE DECIDER 2017 RACE WINNERS & CHAMPIONS
One point. That’s all that separated Blancpain GT Series Asia’s inaugural champion, Next stop Suzuka for the first of Blancpain GT Series Asia’s two Japanese events
Hunter Abbott, from season-long rivals Mitch Gilbert and Aditya Gilbert in the final and a fifth different winner in as many races. After a string of three podiums Lee and HUNTER ABBOTT
GT3 Drivers’ standings after 2017’s 12 action-packed hour-long races. And if that Thong finally opened their victory account thanks to a dominant performance in GRUPPEM RACING - MERCEDES-AMG GT3
wasn’t close enough, eventual Silver Cup winners Marchy Lee and Shaun Thong Race 1. With their fellow Audi rivals finishing third, and Abbott only seventh, the
ended up just two points further back in third. Hong Kong duo were provisionally 13 points clear at the top of the standings. But MITCH GILBERT & ADITYA PATEL
fortunes can turn quickly in motorsport, and that was most certainly the case in
OD RACING - AUDI R8 LMS GT3
Race 2 when non-scores for both the #5 and #86 R8s – the latter after a spectacular
tyre blow-out while leading – were compounded by Abbott – now paired with Maxi
Goetz – winning to re-claim the championship lead.
MARCHY LEE & SHAUN THONG
AUDI HONG KONG - AUDI R8 LMS GT3
Fuji will be remembered for Lamborghini’s first championship victory after Japanese
squad CarGuy Racing and home favourites Kei Cozzolino and Naoki Yokomizo MAXI BUHK (WITH HUNTER ABBOTT)
sealed a popular win. With Lee/Thong and Gilbert/Patel both non-scoring, third GRUPPEM RACING - MERCEDES-AMG GT3
place for Abbott – back with Buhk for the remainder of the campaign – was more
than enough to extend his championship lead. The GruppeM Mercedes-AMG then RINO MASTRONARDI & RUI AGUAS
further strengthened its advantage in Race 2 by claiming a third win of the year SPIRIT OF RACE - FERRARI 488 GT3
ahead of Mastronardi and Aguas who enjoyed a fantastic scrap with Lee over the
closing laps. DARRYL O’YOUNG & MARVIN DIENST
CRAFT-BAMBOO RACING - PORSCHE 991 GT3R
Abbott’s run of favourable results meant his nearest rivals required a miracle at
Shanghai to have any hope of overturning their deficit. And that’s exactly what they
got. Issues in both races resulted in two non-scores while a victory and fourth place ANTHONY LIU & DAVIDE RIZZO
vaulted Lee and Thong into a four-point championship lead. Two podiums also kept BBT - FERRARI 488 GT3
All three crews went into the season finale with a shot at the title. Indeed, Lee and Gilbert and Patel in contention, although neither crew could deny Porsche its first
Thong actually led the standings from Abbott. But it was the GruppeM Racing driver Blancpain GT Series Asia victory after Craft-Bamboo Racing’s Darryl O’Young and KEI COZZOLINO & NAOKI YOKOMIZO
who ultimately prevailed at a rain-lashed Zhejiang despite Gilbert and Patel Marvin Dienst prevailed in a soaking wet second race. CARGUY RACING - LAMBORGHINI HURACAN GT3
becoming the first pairing to win twice over the same weekend.
And so on to Zhejiang where the inaugural Blancpain GT Series Asia title would be MAXI GOETZ (WITH HUNTER ABBOTT)
It was the OD Racing crew who also began the season strongest by winning decided over two hour-long races. 28 points behind at the start of play meant Gilbert GRUPPEM RACING - MERCEDES-AMG GT3
Blancpain GT Series Asia’s first-ever race at Sepang. Finishing as runners-up in the and Patel realistically had to win both in order to retain a shot at the title. Achieving
second after overcoming the full 10-second success penalty gave them a handy their target might have made history but they still fell just short of the ultimate prize
lead over Abbott, who – along with temporary co-driver Raffaele Marciello – after Abbott finished fourth in Race 2. Lee and Thong, meanwhile, also came
recovered from two lowly grid positons to somehow finish second and fourth. agonisingly close after they were unable to recover from an early spin when their GT3 HUNTER ABBOTT
Meanwhile, a podium in Race 2 kept Audi Hong Kong’s Lee and Thong in the hunt. Audi was tapped from behind. GRUPPEM RACING - MERCEDES-AMG GT3
BBT’s Anthony Liu and Davide Rizzo won Sepang’s second race and looked on GruppeM Racing also won the Teams’ title thanks, in part, to their second
SILVER
CUP
MARCHY LEE & SHAUN THONG
course to repeat the feat next time out at Buriram before seeing their chances Mercedes-AMG driven by Jules Szymkowiak and Tim Sugden, while Abbott added AUDI HONG KONG - AUDI R8 LMS GT3
extinguished by an errant GT4 car. That handed Spirit of Race’s Ferrari duo Rino the Pro/Am honours to his overall title.
Mastronardi and Rui Aguas victory ahead of the ultra-consistent Lee and Thong, PRO/AM
CUP
HUNTER ABBOTT
who benefitted from Abbott’s penalty for colliding with Gilbert on lap one. However, There was also joy for CMRT Eurasia’s James Cai and Kenneth Lim whose Aston GRUPPEM RACING - MERCEDES-AMG GT3
the Briton made amends in the second Thai race when he and season-long co- Martin won twice at the final round to beat X-One Racing’s Andrew Haryanto to the
driver Maxi Buhk beat their Audi Hong Kong rivals to victory. With Gilbert and Patel Am Cup title. AM
CUP
KENNETH LIM & JAMES CAI
minimising some of their earlier damage by finishing third, Abbott now led a top- CMRT EURASIA - ASTON MARTIN V12 VANTAGE GT3
three separated by just five points.
TEAMS GRUPPEM RACING
MERCEDES-AMG GT3BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2017 SEASON REVIEW
17 GT4 SEASON REVIEW
STRONG START AND FINISH NETS MERLIN AND YU GT4 CROWN 2017 RACE WINNERS & CHAMPIONS
Jean-Marc Merlin and Frank Yu often appeared the most complete stand-in co-driver George Chou limited the impact. Indeed, another
driver pairing in 2017, but the Craft-Bamboo Racing duo were just second place for Lo and Tong meant it was the EKS Motorsports JEAN-MARC MERLIN & FRANK YU
one of four crews who entered the final weekend with a mathematical Porsche that led at half-distance by just two points from Chang, while CRAFT-BAMBOO RACING - PORSCHE CAYMAN GT4
chance of claiming Blancpain GT Series Asia’s inaugural GT4 Merlin and Yu trailed by another four.
KEO CHANG
Drivers’ title. TAIWAN TOP SPEED RACING - PORSCHE CAYMAN GT4
Fuji brought it with GT4’s first non-Porsche entry of the season
courtesy of Clearwater Racing’s new McLaren, which had already RICHARD WEE & MOK WENG SUN
made its presence felt in Europe. The car’s pace, as well as that of its CLEARWATER RACING - McLAREN 570S GT4
co-drivers Richard Wee and Mok Weng Sun, meant the 570S was
untouchable in both qualifying and the races en route to a double pole ERIC LO & BYRON TONG
and victory. Instead, this year’s title-chasing crews had to be content EKS MOTORSPORTS - PORSCHE CAYMAN GT4
with challenging for podiums, and it was Merlin and Yu who proved
most adept at that by finishing second and third. RINGO CHONG & ZANG KAN
HUBAUTO RACING - PORSCHE CAYMAN GT4
Weaker weekends for both of their main rivals saw the Craft-Bamboo JEREMY WANG (WITH KEO CHANG)
pair travel to Shanghai for 2017’s penultimate event as GT4 TAIWAN TOP SPEED RACING - PORSCHE CAYMAN GT4
championship leaders, and extended that advantage still further by
winning the opening race. Chang kept his hopes alive by finishing first GEORGE CHOU (WITH KEO CHANG)
in the second alongside Taiwan Top Speed partner Jeff Lu, but – just TAIWAN TOP SPEED RACING - PORSCHE CAYMAN GT4
like the EKS pair – left Shanghai further behind Merlin and Yu than at
In truth, the Franco-Hong Kong axis came within half-a-second and the start of the weekend. JEFF LU (WITH KEO CHANG)
an exclusion of triumphing in all of the first five races, a sequence that TAIWAN TOP SPEED RACING - PORSCHE CAYMAN GT4
began when their #77 Porsche claimed the bragging rights for Indeed, the Craft-Bamboo duo began the final event 12 and 13 points
winning Blancpain GT Series Asia’s maiden contest at Sepang in clear of their nearest rivals. Although by no means an insurmountable
GT4 JEAN-MARC MERLIN & FRANK YU
April before narrowly missing out to Byron Tong and Eric Lo in the gap, both Lo and Tong as well as Chang would likely need to beat CRAFT-BAMBOO RACING - PORSCHE CAYMAN GT4
second. their season-long rivals in both races to have any hope of overturning
their deficits. Instead, Merlin and Yu made all-but certain of the crown
A victory and second place apiece meant the crews were tied by winning the opener – their fifth triumph of the year – before
heading to Buriram where contact in Race 1 resulted in the Craft- cruising to second and the title in Race 2. HubAuto Racing’s Ringo
Bamboo Cayman being disqualified post-race after winning on the Chong – himself an outside title contender before the weekend –
road. That handed a first victory of the year to Taiwan Top Speed’s along with co-driver Zang Kan ended the campaign on a high by
Keo Chang, sharing on this occasion with Jeremy Wang, before sealing a first class win of the season.
Merlin and Yu hit back in the second. Nevertheless, it was Lo and
Tong’s consistency that saw them head to Suzuka as sole Merlin and Yu thus ultimately won the crown by 30 points from Lo and
championship leaders. Tong, while Chang was another point further back in third.
A third win in five races helped Merlin and Yu regain the initiative in
Japan, although fifth in the second race behind winner Chang andBLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2017 SEASON REVIEW
18 SRO ‘NIGHT OF THE CHAMPIONS’ AWARDS
At the end of every season SRO
Motorsports Group invites its national
and international champions from
around the world to share in its end-
of-year awards ceremony. This annual
celebration not only unites GT3 and
GT4 title winners from Europe, Asia
and beyond, but also provides a
suitably auspicious setting where
drivers are presented with their
trophies amongst fellow SRO
champions.
The top-three finishers in Blancpain
GT Series Asia’s GT3 and GT4
Drivers’ championships, as well as the
Silver Cup, Pro/Am Cup, Am Cup and
Teams’ champions (plus a guest
each), will all be invited to attend the
awards each year.
2017’s SRO Awards evening will be
an especially glamourous occasion.
Held at the historic Palais Brongniart
in Paris, the prize-giving ceremony is
just one element of an exclusive
evening that also features a strictly
invite-only black tie gala dinner
celebrating 25 years of SRO’s GT
racing heritage.2018 PRESENTATION
BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 PRESENTATION
20 2018 BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA CALENDAR
SEPANG APR 14/15 2x 1HR RACES
BURIRAM MAY 12/13 2x 1HR RACES
SUZUKA JUN 30 / JULY 1 2x 1HR RACES
FUJI JUL 21/22 2x 1HR RACES
SHANGHAI SEP 22/23 2x 1HR RACES FUJI
SUZUKA
VENUE TBC OCT 13/14 2x 1HR RACES
SUZUKA 10 HOURS* AUG 23-26
SHANGHAI
ZHEJIANG
For its second season the championship sticks with the same six tried
and trusted venues as 2017. These, SRO believes, represent the best
viable circuits across Asia.
Amongst their number are four current or former Formula 1 facilities,
one of which – Sepang – opens the campaign in mid-April. Buriram’s
new MotoGP venue, Chang International Circuit, hosts Thailand’s BURIRAM
round a month later before Suzuka stages the first leg of Japan’s
double header at the start of July. Fuji is next up three weeks later
before two Chinese events – at Shanghai and Zhejiang (to be
confirmed), respectively – bring the season to a close.
All six venues will stage two 60-minute races, just like in 2017.
SEPANG
None of Asia’s 2018 dates clash with the European-based Blancpain
GT Series, ensuring more factory drivers and staff will be available to
work across both if they so wish. The two-month gap between Fuji and
Shanghai also provides teams and drivers with ample time to prepare
for the inaugural Suzuka 10 Hours, which will become the
Intercontinental GT Challenge’s designated Asian round from 2018.
*Results do not count towards Blancpain GT Series AsiaBLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2017 SEASON REVIEW
21 2018 INTERCONTINENTAL GT CHALLENGE
LIQUI-MOLY BATHURST 12 HOUR TOTAL 24 HOURS OF SPA
AUSTRALIA BELGIUM SRO’s global GT championship – the Intercontinental GT
Challenge – enters its third season in 2018 and also welcomes
an all-new Asian event.
The series’ purpose couldn’t be simpler: reward the
manufacturer and drivers who achieve the best collective
results in the world’s biggest and best endurance events.
GT3’s proliferation, built on a decade of manufacturer
involvement and SRO’s Balance of Performance stability, has
resulted in it becoming the de facto senior class for all of the
world’s most prestigious GT races. This, as well as using the
same Pirelli tyres, offers manufacturers an incentive to
compete in all such events by employing regional customer
teams without the expense of freighting cars around the world.
Equally, regional teams and drivers can also test themselves
against their international counterparts on home soil. In 2018,
the inaugural Suzuka 10 Hours becomes the IGTC’s
designated Asian round, thus offering Blancpain GT Series
Asia regulars – who will have visited the same venue just two
months earlier – a rare chance to compete as a fully factory-
JAPAN UNITED STATES supported outfit. It’s also the first time that FIA GT3 cars will
SUZUKA 10 HOURS - NEW FOR 2018 MAZDA RACEWAY CALIFORNIA 8 HOURS have raced internationally against their Super GT JAF-spec
counterparts.
The season begins with the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour in
Australia before moving on to Belgium for the Total 24 Hours
of Spa. Suzuka’s iconic figure-of-eight layout is up next ahead
of Laguna Seca’s season finale: the Mazda Raceway
California 8 Hours. All races other than Bathurst are
administered by SRO.BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2017 SEASON REVIEW
22 SUZUKA 10 HOURS
Although not a Blancpain GT Series Asia race,
OVERVIEW the Suzuka 10 Hours does offer its teams and
drivers an opportunity to compete in a global
DATE: August 23-26 GT championship on ‘home’ soil using the
same cars, Pirelli tyres and SRO BoP as
CARS: FIA GT3/GT300, JAF GT & ST-X throughout 2018. What’s more, Blancpain GT
Series Asia representatives will enjoy a head-
CLASSES: Pro, Pro/Am and Am start over their international rivals thanks to
Suzuka’s BGTSA round taking place just two
TYRES: Pirelli months earlier. Equally, with Fuji a full month
beforehand, there’s ample time to prepare for
BoP: SRO Motorsports Group the 10 Hours and much lower logistical costs
incurred for transporting cars, which will
PRIZE MONEY: 100m Japanese Yen already be in the country.
(approx. $900,000)
The 47th Summer Endurance Race, as it’s also
PODIUMS: Top-three in each class plus top- known, is a continuation of the 1000-kilometre
three teams whose line-ups comprise two or contests previously held for Super GT and
more Asian drivers Group C cars, as well as the five FIA GT/BPR
rounds organised by SRO between 1994 and
1998. Inheriting the prestige and tradition of
DETAILS Japan’s biggest GT meeting, which regularly
attracts crowds of 80,000, will make it one of
the jewels in global GT racing’s crown.
2018 sees Asia’s Intercontinental GT Challenge
round switch from Malaysia to a brand-new This prestige is not lost on the likes of Bentley,
event in Japan: the Suzuka 10 Hours. Honda, Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG, Nissan
and Toyota who have already committed
SRO is working closely with Super GT entries. Indeed, the Intercontinental GT
organiser GT Association, event promoter Challenge concept is built around regional
Mobilityland Corporation and organiser Suzuka customer teams running cars on a
Motor Sport Club to stage the event, which manufacturer’s behalf, albeit with significant
takes place on August 23-26. It will be the first factory support.
time that FIA GT3-spec cars will have gone
head-to-head against their JAF GT
counterparts, while the circuit itself remains one
of the greatest challenges in world motorsport.BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 PRESENTATION 23 ELIGIBLE GT3 CARS
BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 PRESENTATION 24 ELIGIBLE GT3 CARS
BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 PRESENTATION 25 ELIGIBLE GT4 CARS
BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 PRESENTATION 26 ELIGIBLE GT4 CARS
BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 PRESENTATION 27 ELIGIBLE GTC CARS
BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 PRESENTATION
28 CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT
SET UP Tuesday - Wednesday
SCRUTINEERING/ CHECKS Thursday – Friday
x2 45’ Practice – Friday
TRACK TIME x1 30’ Official Practice - Saturday
(Typically) x2 15’ Qualifying – Saturday
x2 60’ Race 1 – Saturday Race 2 Sunday (Controlled Pit Stop)
QUALIFYING Each Driver to take part in one of the 15’ sessions. Highest graded driver to take part in the second Qualifying session and start race 2.
PIT STOPS 1 hour race: Mandatory driver change during the 25th and 35th minute (mandatory pit stop time applies)
Following all races top 3 finishers in GT3 and GT4 will incur a ‘success’ time penalty at the following race: 1st = 15 sec, 2nd = 10 sec, 3rd = 5 sec proposed for
SUCCESS PENALTIES
2018 season. New Race by Race Entries / Pairings subject to adjustment.
ELIGIBLE CARS Open to FIA Homologated GT3 and GT4 cars. GTC cars may be accepted by the championship organisers. Must follow the SRO BOP decisions.
DRIVERS Two drivers per car. Solo driver possible subject to organisers’ approval/adjustment.
Points will be awarded for the overall classification in each class and additionally in Pro-Am (Bronze plus Platinum, Gold or Silver) AM/AM Classification for
DRIVER PAIRING
Bronze drivers only and Controlled Silver Cup (Silver Silver) Classifications. Silver Cup cars balanced against Pro/Am cars.
GT3: Overall, Pro/Am, AM/AM, Silver Cup
CLASSES GT4: AM/AM only
GTC/XtraCup: PRO/AM, AM/AM. Subject to approval and BOP
CATEGORISATION FIA Driver Categorisation system
POINTS 25 - 18 - 15 - 12 - 10 - 8 - 6 - 4 - 2 – 1.
LICENCE International Grade C licence minimum
Before 31st December – early bird fees: GT3: $40,000, GT4: $34,000
After 31st December: GT3 $43,000, GT4: $36,000
ENTRY FEES
After 31st January: GT3 $46,000, GT4: $38,000
Race by Race GT3 $8000 Race by Race GT4 $6500 (both subject to capacity)
PRIZE FUND $300,000 = $50,000 per event (subject to completing each round)
TRANSPORT NEW FOR 2018: First 25 full season entries receive $16k transport credit per car (Subject to completing every round).
For the first meeting entered: in GT3 a maximum of 5 sets, in GT4 a maximum of 4 sets.
PIRELLI TYRES For subsequent meetings: in GT3 a maximum of 4 sets of new tyres plus one additional set nominated at a previous round of the Blancpain GT Series Asia may
be registered for use in free practice only. In GT4 a maximum of 3 sets of new tyres plus one additional set nominated at a previous round of the Blancpain GT
Series Asia may be registered for use in free practice only. Wets unlimited.
Testing is subject to control. Registered and recurring race by race entries are permitted to enter in other race events at circuits which are part of the 2018
TESTING Calendar but are prohibited from taking part in private or general test days during the season at circuits which are part of the 2018 Calendar, unless it is an
Official Test, as announced by Bulletin. One-off race-by-race entries are subject to testing limitations/adjustment. Testing restrictions starts from after round 1, no
private testing to take place in Sepang the week prior the race weekend, unless official. Official Suzuka test scheduled for week of event - details and price TBA.BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 PRESENTATION
29 PRIZE MONEY
Blancpain GT Series Asia rewards its podium finishers with prize
money at each of the season’s six events. This is paid directly to teams
2017’S TOP EARNERS
by SRO Motorsports Group. CRAFT-BAMBOO RACING GT3/GT4 $51,500
OD RACING GT3 $47,500
$300,000 SEASON TOTAL
ACROSS GT3/GT4
PHOENIX RACING ASIA GT3 $45,000
EKS MOTORSPORTS GT4 $17,500
$50,000 WEEKEND TOTAL
ACROSS GT3/GT4
HUBAUTO RACING
TAIWAN TOP SPEED RACING
GT4
GT4
$17,500
$16,000
RACE
POSITION GT3 GT4
$20,000 $7,000
$10,000 $5,000
$5,000 $3,000BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 PRESENTATION
30 TRANSPORT ASSISTANCE AND TIMING
Blancpain GT Series Asia drivers and teams benefit from SRO’s experienced transport and timing
partners, as well as a financial logistical incentive for those teams committing to 2018 early.
OFFICIAL SRO’s official logistics partner ensures freight is transported
LOGISTICS directly from paddock to paddock on time and with minimal
fuss.
PARTNER
As an incentive for confirming early entries, SRO will divide a
$400,000 total transport assistance budget of $400,000 between the first
25 paid-for full-season cars. This $16,000 per entry will
TRANSPORT contribute towards the team’s year-long logistical costs.
ASSISTANCE Payment conditional on the designated car entering all six
events.
Dedicated timing provider at each race meeting. Advanced
driver ID technology and comprehensive race timing data is
OFFICIAL delivered in real-time to all pit garages. Timing and tracking
TIMING data can also be followed by teams and fans online. As well as
timing multiple SRO series around the world, TSL’s accuracy
PARTNER and experience is trusted by the likes of Formula 1 and the
World Rally Championship.BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 PRESENTATION
31 PARTNERS - SPORTING
Blancpain GT Series Asia has joined forces with two regional championships
to help create a strong and cost-effective GT racing platform across Asia.
SUPPORT
Lamborghini Super Trofeo will compete at five of the six events
CATEGORY
STRONG SRO and China GT enjoy a close relationship and shared their
2017 season finales at Zhejiang. SRO’s BOP also governs
RELATIONSHIP China GT’s GT4 class.BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 PRESENTATION
32 PARTNERS
Established in 1735, the world’s oldest watch manufacturer is now as
TITLE synonymous with GT racing as GT racing is with Blancpain. In 2017 the
SPONSOR Swiss luxury brand extended its title sponsorship in Europe to also
include SRO’s new Asian series.
Pirelli is trusted the world over by racing drivers to provide performance
when it matters most. More than just a supplier, Pirelli is a key component
TYRE of SRO’s world-renowned Balance of Performance regulations, offering a
SUPPLIER stable and trusted variable around which BoP’s data is calculated. As
such, the Italian manufacturer supplies the same compounds and
constructions to SRO’s other global GT3 and GT4 championships.
Motorsport has been the globally-renowned French company’s primary
proving ground since the 1950s. Its 300V Motorsport Line engine oil,
SERIES lubricant and maintenance products are already trusted by drivers, teams
PARTNER and manufacturers competing around the world in a diverse range of
categories such as Blancpain GT Series, MotoGP, World SBK, Super GT
and the Le Mans 24 Hours.
The final two rounds of 2017’s inaugural campaign saw the Mercedes-
AMG GT leading the championship’s 30-strong entry of GT3 and GT4
SAFETY CAR
cars to the start line of all four Chinese races, as well as performing a
PARTNER Safety Car’s essential duties in the event of an accident. AMG also
supplied the official Medical CarBLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 PRESENTATION
33 PARTNERS
DIXCEL’s advanced braking technology is commonplace in Japanese and
Asian motorsport, with its products used in Super GT and the Asian Le
SERIES Mans Series amongst others. But DIXCEL’s quality is also internationally
PARTNER recognised; teams and manufacturers competing in the FIA WTCC,
Australian GT Championship and at the Nurburgring 24 Hours trust it to
keep their drivers and cars safe.
Every Blancpain GT Series Asia round features models exclusively
supplied by motorsport promotion specialists Top Speed. The ‘Angels’ are
SERIES
the official faces of the championship, appearing on its pre-race grids and
PARTNER post-race podiums as well as handling all promotional activities within the
paddock.
Today, T.M. Performance offers OE production, engineering, and problem-
solving services for major brand names in the motorsports industry, as
SERIES well as supplying high quality aftermarket components. Its core business
PARTNER is primarily based on the development and sales of products destined for
the racing components sector, and mechanical components for special
applications within the motorsports industry.
Sport Auto has quickly established itself as China’s leading motor racing
and automotive authority since launching as a regional outpost for
MEDIA Germany’s auto motor und sport in 2014. Its understanding of the local
PARTNER market has proven invaluable to distributing the championship’s live race
stream across China’s myriad social media and online outlets, while it
also produces traditional print, multi-format digital and video content.BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 PRESENTATION 34 GRAPHICAL CHARTER - CAR
BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 PRESENTATION
35 GRAPHICAL CHARTER - RACESUIT
MANDATORY
Pirelli logo on right
chest and right arm MANDATORY
Blancpain GT Series Asia logo on left chest
MANDATORY
Motul logo on right chest
NOT MANDATORY
SRO logo on right arm
MANDATORY
RESERVED Reserved space on right chestBLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 PRESENTATION
36 2018 ENTRIES NOW OPEN!
ENTRY FORM
TEAM NAME ………………………………
NATIONALITY .……………………………
ENTRY GT3 GT4
Entries are now being accepted for Blancpain GT Series Asia 2018.
CAR …………………………………………
To register, download and complete the form or contact a member
of staff for more information. DRIVER 1 .…………………………………
DRIVER 2 .…………………………………
Remember: the first 25 paid-for full-season entries will receive a
$16,000 transport allowance, courtesy of SRO. SIGNATURE .……………………………..
DATE …………………..
CLICK HERE to download the 2018 entry form. SUBMITBLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 PRESENTATION
37 CONTACTS - KEY CHAMPIONSHIP PERSONNEL
BENJAMIN FRANASSOVICI
SERIES DIRECTOR &
GENERAL MANAGER
benjamin@sro-motorsports.com
+44 7771 516 515
PAUL YAO
SERIES
CO-DIRECTOR
ceo@supercarclub.com
+852 9489 9641
M. RAVIN
SERIES
RACE DIRECTOR
directionmotorsport@gmail.com
+60 19 381 2234BLANCPAIN GT SERIES ASIA – 2018 PRESENTATION
38 CONTACTS
LAUREN GRANVILLE TEAM COORDINATOR lgranville@sro-motorsports.com +44 7879 484 958
JOANNE GOH ADMINISTRATOR & COORDINATOR joanne@sro-motorsports.com +60 163 192 202
TOM HORNSBY PRESS OFFICER tom@sro-motorsports.com +44 7935 820 827
TERRY GREENE CHIEF SCRUTINEER terrybgtsa@gmail.com +852 9057 5945
GETHIN REES OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER Gethin@tsl-timing.com
WWW.BLANCPAIN-GT-SERIES-ASIA.COM @BLANCPAINGTA BLANCPAINGTSERIESASIA @BLANCPAINGTSERIESASIASEE YOU IN 2018!
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